Electronic marshalling uproots 35 years of spaghetti wiring practices

Last month, in unveiling the S-Series release of its DeltaV digital automation system, Emerson Process Management (Austin, Tex.; www.emersonprocess.com) introduced electronic marshalling, a new concept in input/output (I/O) configuration that promises to streamline the design and installation of automation systems, substantially reduce hardware and wiring needs, and eliminate delays and cost overruns that are often attributed to the automation portion of capital projects. New single-channel Characterization Modules (CHARMS) make this possible for individual point-wired field devices, featuring built-in electronics that relay I&C data to the appropriate DeltaV controller via Ethernet backbone. Such electronic marshalling circumvents the need for users to cross wire each field device to specific controller-I/O cards, thereby avoiding so-called spaghetti wiring that is rigidly configured and diagramed in complex drawing sets. In fact, for a project with 15,341 hardwired points, electronic marshalling can achieve a 50% reduction in the number of controller cabinets, a 40% reduction in the cabinet footprint and a 90% reduction in intra-cabinet wiring when compared to conventional I/O marshalling, says Peter Zornio, chief strategic officer. The…